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exemplary manner,” King Henry said. “This was not an example of the chivalrous behavior we expect from one of the knights of our court and especially a son of Sir Urien Fitzroy. It was improper of you to approach Lady Anne when she was alone.

      “On the other hand, it seems that the lady’s relatives reacted with far more violence than the original situation warranted.”

      The king rose to his feet, looking less like a young man and more like the sovereign of England. “Mistakes have been made. Enmity between two noble houses has been created. A charge has been leveled that will stain the reputation of both of you. However, I perceive a means to bring about a reconciliation and prevent further animosity.

      “Lady Anne, Sir Reece, you must marry.”

       Chapter Four

      “Sire, I must protest. I do not know this woman beyond a single meeting,” Reece said, fighting to keep his anger and dismay from showing on his face.

      He had been full of concern over Lady Anne’s fate, especially when Gervais reported that she had kept to her room all the day after their encounter, and was relieved to see her enter the hall.

      Indeed, more than relieved. As she had approached the king’s throne, so proud and confident, he had again felt that thrilling jolt of fascination the very first sight of her had engendered. And her eyes-how her spirit had flashed forth from those sparkling green orbs.

      Yet whatever emotions had passed between them in the corridor before her half brothers had arrived, there could not, and must not, be anything more between them.

      “Marriages between families is a time-honored way of settling dissension. Many a noble bride has never met her husband until the wedding day,” Henry replied, glancing at his wife. “That need not be a hardship.”

      “Sire,” Sir Reece began again, so determined to have the future he had planned he dared to talk back to the king, “Lady Anne has made it clear that I did not dishonor her. However, people might suppose we are being made to wed because I did attack her. We shall both be as tainted as if I had.”

      Queen Eleanor fixed her steely gaze upon him, reminding him why the men in Henry’s council feared her and her influence upon the young king. “Did you not take advantage of her?” she demanded. “Did you not treat her as if she were a serving wench and not a noble lady of my court? You made a serious mistake, Sir Reece.”

      “I did, and for that I am truly sorry,” he replied, his contrition sincere—but so was his need not to marry Lady Anne, who was sitting so still, she might be a corpse.

      Except for her vibrant eyes. He could feel their gaze every time he spoke, and try as he might to focus only upon the royal couple and find a way out of this dilemma, an image persisted in dancing about the edges of his rational mind: Anne Delasaine in his bed, in his arms, her naked body clasped to him as they passionately made love.

      “But Majesty,” he continued, his voice steady despite the tumult of thoughts and images flashing through his head, “to make us marry will certainly cause some people to think that there must have been some truth to the Delasaines’ charge.”

      “So does the sight of your bruised face,” Eleanor retorted. “It looks as if they duly punished you for a base crime. Or do you accuse my kinsmen of being savages?”

      Even Henry looked rather shocked at his wife’s stern question before he again addressed Reece. “I will not have the Fitzroys feuding with the Delasaines. However it came about, this is a dangerous situation, and I will have it remedied before it worsens to poison my court like a festering wound.

      “Therefore, Sir Reece, you may decide. Marry this lady—and without a dowry—or face a charge of attempted rape in the king’s court in London.”

      Reece’s heart seemed to stop, and he knew he was trapped. That the king would even consider such a threat proved how determined he was about this marriage.

      Henry turned his gaze onto Anne. “If you think to protest, my lady, know that I will also charge your brothers with attempted murder for their attack upon Sir Reece. They should be mollified by the lack of a dower payment.”

      He regarded them both with all the majesty befitting a king and spoke with firm decision. “Unlike my father, I will have peace in my court, one way or another.”

      Out of the corner of his eye, Reece saw Lady Anne rise and approach the king, as serene and lovely as an angel. Although he noted her apparently humble attitude, there was something about the tilt of her chin suggestive of defiance—a defiance he felt but did not dare to voice.

      Not that he intended to accept the king’s decree as his unalterable fate. He could not marry any woman related to the notoriously vicious, untrustworthy, ambitious Delasaines. Given his own ambitions, he must not be tied to such men in any way.

      As his father had taught him long ago, when the first plan of attack seems impossible, figure out another. And another, if need be, until you come up with one that works, and that was what he must do.

      Anne knelt before Henry and bowed her head, as humble now as she had been resolute only moments ago. “Sire, naturally as I am your loyal subject, I must and shall obey your command,” she said. “However, I have a request, or a wedding gift to beg, if you wish to think of it that way.”

      Then she smiled, and her beauty simply dazzled. There was no other word for it.

      Not surprisingly, for Henry was a man, he returned her smile and cocked an inquisitive brow. A swift glance at Eleanor showed that she was not nearly as impressed, yet she was equally curious to know what Anne was going to say next.

      “Well, Lady Anne, what would you have?” Henry asked.

      “Sir Reece’s father is Sir Urien Fitzroy, is he not?”

      As Henry inclined his head in agreement, Reece tensed, confused as to what his father had to do with this. She did not look as if she was about to complain that she could not wed the son of a bastard, even one who had raised himself in the world by skill at arms.

      “I would ask that my younger brother, Piers, be allowed to train with Sir Urien, who is noted for his abilities in that regard.”

      Reece relaxed, although he wondered if this other brother would be like the older ones. If so, he would rather invite a viper into his parents’ home.

      “A most excellent idea, Lady Anne, and another way to mend this most unfortunate rift.”

      The king sounded very pleased, so once again, Reece did not venture to voice any objection to this scheme, either.

      Besides, surely one lone boy couldn’t cause that much trouble. His father had dealt with recalcitrant lads before; his reputation also stemmed from the way he was able to train even the most incorrigible and spoiled of youths. Surely he could handle Piers Delasaine, if need be.

      Better than his son had handled the other Delasaines.

      Reece fought to ignore the chiding of his shame. Indeed, he should be trying to think of ways to avoid his forthcoming marriage.

      The king rose and held out his hand to Eleanor. “I shall leave you two alone to discuss the nuptials tomorrow.”

      “Tomorrow?” Lady Anne gasped, as shocked as Reece.

      “Tomorrow,” the king confirmed. “I would have this business concluded with all haste, before relatives and friends try to delay it.”

      Or the bride or groom, Reece suspected.

      “At noon, as is traditional. Since this is my command, we will provide the wedding feast, of course.”

      If it truly comes to pass, Reece thought as he made his obeisance, for he was not yet willing to concede that the marriage was inevitable.

      Henry and Eleanor departed, leaving him alone with his bride-to-be.

      He had a hundred things

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